English-language bookshops in Paris

More than ten bookshops in Paris specialize in English-language books. The larger, more mass market ones are located on the Right Bank. WH Smith has helpful bilingual staff and stocks books, travel guides and newspapers that reflect its English heritage. Brentano's bills itself as "la librairie Franco-Ameréricaine de Paris depuis 1895" and might be considered WH Smith's American counterpart. Librairie Galignani carries a large stock of both English and French books in a comfortable environment where browsing is encouraged. Attica, "la librairie des langues" located near Bastille, is particularly good for books from small-press publishers and the latest new American fiction.

Librairie Galignani, 224 rue de Rivoli, 1e. 01 42 60 76 07 [galignani@wanadoo.fr]
WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1e. 01 44 77 88 99
Brentano’s, 37 ave de l'Opéra, 2e. 01 42 61 52 50
Attica, 106 boulevard Richard Lenoir, 11e. 01 55 28 80 14

Smaller, cozier and generally less expensive bookshops are to be found on the Left Bank. Each has its own often unique style and focus. Many are open seven days a week, often until midnight, and frequently host author readings, lectures and other special events. It is well worth checking out their websites for details. Some, such as the Canadian-oriented Abbey Bookstore, the funky San Francisco Book Company and the sprawling Shakespeare and Company, carry both new and used books. The literary Village Voice Bookshop has a relatively large stock of over 18,000 titles including European literature in translation. The store also functions an important meeting place and center for American literary activity in Paris. Berkeley Books of Paris, which opened in early 2006, carries american and english second-hand books.

Shakespeare and Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 5e. 01 43 26 33 22
The Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e. 01 46 33 16 24 [abparis@compuserve.com]
The Book Cellar, 23 rue Jean de Beauvais, 5e. 01 46 34 62 03
San Francisco Book Company, 17 rue Monsieur le Prince, 6e. 01 43 29 15 70
Berkeley Books of Paris, 8 rue Casimir Delavigne, 6e. 01 46 34 85 73
The Village Voice. 6 rue Princesse, 6e. 01 46 33 36 47

The Right Bank is not however without its smaller, quirky bookshops that have considerable charm. The staff at these establishments tend to be well-read and very helpful. The jam-packed Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore is perhaps the friendliest english-language bookshop in Paris and the second-hand bookshop Tea and Tattered Pages features a cosy tea room at the rear.

Tea and Tattered Pages, 24 rue Mayet, 3e. 01 40 65 94 35
The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore, 22 rue Saint Paul, 4e. 01 48 04 75 08